Writing-tablet



H. GRIP WRITING TAB Patented Feb. 1, 1898,

.3 e w w E immmmmmvmm I p M if 5 By I/I 1 A TTOHNE S.

UNiEn STATES ATENT Prion.

IVILLIAM H. GRIFFIN, OF HAl/VTHORNE, NEIV JERSEY.

WRITING-TABLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,368, dated February 1, 1898. Application filed February 26,1897. .S a -62 i 83- p L) To aZZ whom it may concern/.

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM H. GRIFFIN, of Hawthorne, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Writing-Tablet, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved device adapted to hold loose sheets of paper for use as a writing-tablet.

It consists, essentially, of a board or backing having mounted upon one end thereof a spring-held bar which is adapted to clamp the paper upon one surface of the backing and near the end thereof and which may be raised and held in a raised position by the action of the spring.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan View of my device. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the upper portion in section. Fig. 3 is an end view in section at one corner to show the pivot and the eccentric projection upon the end thereof; and Fig.4 is a side View of the upper end of the device, showing the sheets of paper in position.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and cheap device for use where it is desired to use tablets, more particularly for use in school-rooms as a substitute for slates. For the latter use in particular my device has many sanitary advantages over the ordinary slate which will commend its use.

It consists of a board or other suitable backing A, which at its upper end is bound by a metal plate B. This plate extends across the upper end of the backing and is bent over so as to inclose the side and end edge near the corners. The upper corners of the board A are cut away or recessed,'as shown at F in Fig. 2. Upon the upper end of the board A is placed a plate or bar D, the ends d of which are bent down into the recess F. This bar is made of spring metal and is adapted to enter beneath the end of the clamping-bar and press the same outward against the surface I) of the plate B. The clamping-bar consists of a wire 0, having its ends E bent parallel with the side of the board A and then again bent so as to form a pivot a, parallel with the bar 0. This pivot e passes through the flat portion of the plate B, which embraces the side edge of the board A. The extreme end or tip of the pivot e is bent to one side, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, forming an eccentric projection e. This eccentric projection or short arm is engaged by the ends (1 of the bar or plate D to be forced out against the portion 1) of the plate B, and is thus adapted to hold the bar 0 down closely upon the surface of the board A. If the bar 0 be raised, the eccentric projection 6 will force back the spring portion cl of the bar or plate D. When the bar 0 has been su fficiently raised, the eccentric projection 6 will pass by the direct line of pressure of the spring portions d, when the spring will hold the arm in a raised position.

The board A, as shown in the drawings, is provided with a slot or depression a, extending across its upper end at the point where the bar 0 contacts therewith. The sheets of paper represented by G in Fig. 4 are inserted beneath the bar (J when in its raised position. The bar is then brought down and held securely upon the sheets G bythe action of the springs d upon the eccentric projection 6. This depression serves to hold the sheets a little more securely than would be done bya fiat or plane surface. It may, however, be dispensed with and the strength of the springs d be made such as to hold the bar 0 down with all the force required.

The details in the construction of my device may be varied in many points without departing from my invention. For instance, the portion of the plate B which acts as a binding'for the edges and corners of the board may be separated from the portion placed upon the flat surface thereof. The spring parts 01 of the plate D may also be made independently of each other and the plate D,

which maybe used as a binding for the end 1 surface of the tablet.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A writing-tablet, comprising a back, a clamping-bar extending across the upper face thereof having its ends bent at right angles and embracing the sides of the back, and then recurved inwardly to form pivots, eccentric projections upon the inner ends of the pivots, and a spring engaging said projections to hold the bar either upon the face of the tablet or raised, substantially as described.

2. A writing-tablet, comprising a back having its upper corners cut away or recessed, a plate forming the corner edges, a clampingbar extending across the face just below the top, and bent at the ends so as to pivot in the c0rner-plates and having its tips projecting into the corner-recess and eccentric of the pivot, and a spring-bar extending across the upper end edge and having itsends engaging the inner sides of the ends of the said pivots, substantially as described.

3. A writing-tablet, comprising a back having its upper end cut away or recessed at the sides and having a groove across its face adapted to receive a clamping-bar, a plate forming the corner edges, a clamping-bar extending across the face just below the top and bent at the ends so as to pivot in the corner-plates, and having its tips projecting into the corner-recess and eccentric of the pivots, and a spring-bar extending across the upper end or edge of the tablet and having its ends engaging the inner sides of the ends of the said pivots, substantially as described.

WVILLIAM H. GRIFFIN.

Witnesses JNo. M. BITTER, ALFRED Luncor'r. 

